starter problem.

[john]

You can see there is good (normal) engagement by the wear marks upon the pinion. I'd like to see the flywheel rotated completely, as I suspect there is a pocket of intense wear which is bringing about the condition.

i'll try and get out later and rotate the engine and get pics later

[addo]

Have a look near the bottom of this page:

http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?1,1674567,page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[john]

here's a video of the flywheel being turned, now, all spark plugs were still in place and i was able to freely turn the crank with 1 hand using my 12inch rachet (other holding the camera), isn't that a sign of something not very good?

[RichardW]

John

How did the original fault develop?

>>here's a video of the flywheel being turned, now, all spark plugs were still in place and i was able to freely turn the crank with 1 hand using my 12inch rachet (other holding the camera), isn't that a sign of something not very good?

Potentially - I'd be taking the cambelt covers off to have a look....and not expecting to see good things

Edit: hang on a mo - is this the same car as in your other thread? ie the one that overheated? In which case odds on the head gasket is cactus but the cambelt is probably OK

[john]

How did the original fault develop?

not even sure what the original fault is anymore

i bought a car on the cheap drove it home no problem (seemed slow but ive never driven a 1.4 before so it may be normal), got home stopped for 5 minutes and thats when the STOP warning appeared.

the starter was a known issue when i bought it.

Potentially - I'd be taking the cambelt covers off to have a look....and not expecting to see good things

Edit: hang on a mo - is this the same car as in your other thread? ie the one that overheated? In which case odds on the head gasket is cactus but the cambelt is probably OK

yes this is the same car as the other thread

checked the cambelt earlier, its still in 1 piece, would it not show in the emissions test at mot time if the HG was goosed? also doesn't seemed to have used and oil or water in the 100+ mile drive home.

[john]

as its looking like a possible HG issue tomorrow i am doing a compression test, anyone know what readings i should get?

[Xantidote]

Can't help you with specific compression test values, but as a guide (I stand to be corrected) I'd be looking for a variation of no more than 10%

[RichardW]

OK, so as I understand it, timeline goes as follows:

Buy car, known starter issue (which appears to be that the starter turns but the engine doesn't).
Drive home 100 miles OK, but after 5 minutes idling in drive high temp warning comes on.
Starter removed and can be made to spin off the car
Engine turned over by hand, with a possible loss of compression

So questions:

Have you been able to start the car since the overheat?
Is the original fault with the starter as above?
If the starter is re-fitted to the car, does the engine turn over and does it sound 'normal'?

What I would do:

Refit starter, and crank engine, see if it sounds normal / will start. If it does, then ignore the starter and work on the overheat problem:

Check header tank for bubbles / pressurising a short time after start.
Check you can turn the rad fan by hand, and if possible that you can make it run put putting 12V direct across it.
If the fan won't run then assume fan is dead, if it will run direct, then possible wiring / relay / fan switch (if it's got one) fault.

If the engine won't start, but is turning over and sounds funny (ie no compression) then suspect head gasket
It it's won't turn over, then back to a starter problem or loose ring gear

[Stewart(oily)]

Erroneous reply to wrong thread

[john]

Buy car, known starter issue (which appears to be that the starter turns but the engine doesn't).
Drive home 100 miles OK, but after 5 minutes idling in drive high temp warning comes on.
Starter removed and can be made to spin off the car
Engine turned over by hand, with a possible loss of compression

the above is all correct and in order

Have you been able to start the car since the overheat?

yes, no weird noises or anything

Is the original fault with the starter as above?

yes

If the starter is re-fitted to the car, does the engine turn over and does it sound 'normal'?

haven't had time to fit it due to work

Check you can turn the rad fan by hand, and if possible that you can make it run put putting 12V direct across it.

ok, will do

[carpysmith]

It,s not unheard of for the one way clutch in starter motor drive gears to slip/pack up? at least it wasn,t way back when i was an auto electrician! (was 25 years ago mind you!!!).
Regards.
Steve (aka carpysmith)
1999 Xantia 2.0hdi sx (estate)

[john]

ok, the fan can be turned by hand and by 12v.

what i have noticed about the starter is that sometimes it will turn the engine for a split second then stops turning the engine but the starter still spins

[Peter.N.]

Your flywheel looks pretty well OK except for slight wear on the edge where it appears that the pinion has not been fully engaging. I would change the starter, there should be plenty of secondhand one about.

Peter

[john]

Your flywheel looks pretty well OK except for slight wear on the edge where it appears that the pinion has not been fully engaging. I would change the starter, there should be plenty of secondhand one about.

Peter

thats the plan, cheap enough too.

[john]

ok so the stater doesnt even turn the car over at all now, tried literally over 40 times and it just spins.

with the igntion on should the key (immobiliser im guessing) light on the dash go out? and when i turn the ignition on i cant hear the fuel pump prime, could this be anything to do with the starter? ie an immobiliser issue?